Award winners, back row, from left, are Mick Vonck, Judy Vonck, Tyler Riutta, Tyler Penrod, Chauntel Tiziani, Susie Wright, and Iris Katers. In the front row, from left, are Gail Anthony, Stella Stroh, Babette Welch, Jillian Boburka, Giovanni Scibelli, and Justine Heutamaki. (Journal photo by Vickie Fee)

MARQUETTE — The Marquette Beautification & Restoration Committee held its annual awards luncheon at the Holiday Inn of Marquette.

Awards are not given for every category in every year. This year 10 awards were presented.

Barb Kelly, vice president of MB&RC, presented the honors.

The first award, the 2024 Great Neighbor Award, was presented for the first time to mail carrier Paul Tiziani. Unfortunately, Tiziani had surgery the day before the luncheon and was unable to attend. His daughter accepted on his behalf.

She noted that her dad speaks of residents on his route as if they are family. People on his route shared how he gives his cell phone number to his residents and goes well beyond the call of duty to serve them, even giving treats to their pets.

One woman who was expecting and had a young toddler as well, while her husband was on deployment with the military, received extra care from Tiziani, who not only carried USPS packages into her house for her, but packages from FedEx and UPS, too.

Justiana Hautamaki received the Phil Niemisto Volunteer Award.

“It’s odd getting an award from a volunteer organization, and I know many of you do way more than I do,” Hautamaki said.

She works in the Parks and Recreation Department of Marquette. People have noticed Hautamaki pruning and deadheading plants around town early in the morning, before she goes to the office for her regular job.

Kelly presented an Appreciation Award to Susie Wright for gathering funds that have been a big financial help to the organization. Susie totals up receipts from Tadych’s. It’s not a job that people see her doing, but they all benefit from her quiet behind-the-scenes work.

The Commercial/Business Improvement Award was presented to L&M Fleet Supply and accepted by Tyler Riutta, store manager. Kelly said she had heard many residents say how pleased they are with the attractive job L&M has done to the exterior of its store, which is located in the Old Shopko building.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Chuck Oberstar, who has done a lot of work for Bay Cliff at cost to support this important community resource, and recently was hired to do some heavy work for MB&RC.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented to Gail Anthony for her initiative in bringing in young people.

Iris Katers received the Sparkplug Award for working with students at Father Marquette Academy. She brought along two of the sixth graders she has worked with in the school’s STEM study.

The students have built gardens behind the school and learned a lot about plants and growing gardens with Katers’ support. One of the students noted that zinnias are her personal favorite plant.

“We had fun and learned a lot,” said the sixth grader.

The Window Display Award was given to Stella Stroh and Arayana Seiple-Welch. “We don’t give out every award every year,” Kelly noted. “But the window display at The Silver Lining features much appreciated designs that light up Third Street.”

The Great Outdoors Award was presented to the Superior Watershed Partnership and accepted by Tyler Penrod.

“We salute this fine nonprofit and have started a partnership with Superior Watershed Partnership. We feel our priorities are aligned and are excited about the raingarden plans,” Kelly said. The MB&RC is also working with watershed partnership on removing graffiti with the Graffiti Coalition through Project Sparkle to address and eradicate graffiti in our area.

The Barbara H. Kelly Historic Preservation Award went to Mick and Judy Vonck.

Mick’s mother was the MB&RC’s first treasurer, Kelly noted. The couple bought a homestead that they’ve been working on for the past 20 years with impressive results.

The MB&RC is best known for its Petunia Pandemonium project. Each spring through fall, the beautification and restoration committee cultivates an array of flowers that embellish the South Front Street corridor, including the roundabout at South Front Street and U.S. 41.

For more information about the Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee, visit the website at mqtbeautification.org.